Photo: TCR Italy

Simonov wins Race 1 at Mugello while points leader Imberti suffers puncture

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SP Competition driver Mikhail Simonov won the opening race of the TCR Italy weekend at Mugello while points leader Michele Imberti suffered a late puncture.

Pole sitter Cosimo Barberini made a solid start and claimed the lead heading into Turn 1, only to get into a slide exiting the turn which saw him dropping down to third behind Simonov and Imberti.

Honda driver Marco Pellegrini managed to pass Audi driver Matteo Poloni for fourth place heading into Turn 1 on lap two.

Cupra driver Barberini recovered ground after his mistake on the first lap and attacked Imberti for second place, making the move stick on lap four.

Imberti was then on his own in third place when disaster struck on lap 12 as the Hyundai driver suffered a front-left puncture which saw him pit and lose two laps on the leaders, finishing down in 18th.

Simonov drove a solid race in the lead, winning on debut by close to two seconds over Barberini.

Pellegrini was a distant third, more than 22 seconds behind, while Poloni had to defend fourth place from rival Audi driver Carlo Alberto Bocca who finished fifth.

PMA Motorsport driver Sandro Pelatti finished sixth ahead of Denis Babuin and Francesco Cardone.

The second and final race of the weekend starts at 10:00 CEST on Sunday.